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Are You Being Served? The Complete Collection (Series 1-10) 14 vol |  | Directors: Jeremy Lloyd, Mike Stevens
Actors: John Inman, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Trevor Bannister
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
Buy New: $283.99
as of 3/12/2010 17:50 CST details
New (7) Used (4) from $205.49
Seller: L. M. Endicott
Rating:  78 reviews
Sales Rank: 42795
Format: Box set, DVD, Color, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 14
Running Time: 2070 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.1
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 7.7 x 5.5
MPN: E2063
ISBN: 0790794993
UPC: 794051206329
EAN: 9780790794990
ASIN: B0002F6BTM
Release Date: September 7, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | There's plenty of laughter in store when an unbelievably quirky contingent of sales clerks makes shopping at Grace Brothers the comic experience of a lifetime. For the first time, all 69 episodes of thisic Britcom have been gathered together in one deluxe collection. Each episode is presented uncut and has been lovingly restored. Also included are two bonus discs containing over five hours of e |
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Product Description
There's plenty of laughter in store when an unbelievably quirky contingent of sales clerks makes shopping at Grace Brothers the comic experience of a lifetime. For the first time all 69 episodes of this classic Britcom have been gathered together in one deluxe collection. Each episode is presented uncut and has been lovingly restored. Also included are two bonus discs containing over five hours of extra material!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 794051206329 Manufacturer No: E2063
Amazon.com
The definitive British sitcom is almost certainly Are You Being Served?, which depicts the squabbles, misadventures, and flirtations of the staff of Grace Brothers department store. The show was originally conceived as a vehicle for an irreverent junior salesman named Mr. Lucas (Trevor Bannister), but it soon became clear that mocking a social hierarchy isn't half as funny as taking it all too seriously. The show really revolves around Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), whose wildly changing hair color and mercurial moods terrorize the rest of the staff, and cheerful but sly Mr. Humphries (the effervescent John Inman), one of the first gay characters on television treated with dignity--or at least no more indignity than anyone else (the show makes some noise about not being sure if Mr. Humphries is gay or not, but no one in the audience will have any question). But the rest of the cast is superb as well: Frank Thornton as the elegant but leering floorwalker Capt. Peacock, Wendy Richard as the sexy, impish Miss Brahms, Arthur Brough as cantankerous Mr. Grainger (who, sadly, died after the fifth season; other characters took his position on the sales staff, but never quite matched up), and Nicholas Smith as the self-serving but incompetent manager Mr. Rumbold form a comic ensemble that has rarely been equaled. These characters, written with affection and played with superb comic dash, endlessly jockey for status and salary while simultaneously creating an alternative family (the core structure for any sitcom on either side of the Atlantic). Are You Being Served? deserves its devoted fan base, who will revel in this comprehensive 14-DVD box set (which includes specials about Inman, Sugden, and Richard, as well as other extras). --Bret Fetzer
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 78
A British Comedy Classic! December 30, 2004
Tiggah (Calgary, Alberta Canada)
134 out of 136 found this review helpful
Ten series of this classic Britcom were produced between 1973-1985, and all sixty-nine 30-minute episodes, including the black-and-white pilot and the Christmas specials (positioned chronologically in the order originally broadcast), are here in one boxed set.
The series revolves around the staff of Grace Brothers' Department Store--particulary the staff of menswear and ladieswear. The ladies' department is headed by the pompous, air-assuming Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden). She's a bit of a man eater (or would be could she get her hands on one!) and is forever fretting about Tiddles, her pussy--cat that is! Her junior is sexy Miss Brahms (Wendy Richard), who is constantly fighting off the advances of the menswear junior, Mr. Lucas (Trevor Bannister, who left the show after series seven due to a scheduling conflict). From series eight on, Mr. Spooner (Mike Berry--a former singer) takes over as the new menswear junior, flirting with Miss Brahms and insulting Mrs. Slocombe at every opportunity! The menswear department is headed by curmudgeonly old Mr. Grainger (Arthur Brough, who died (aged 73) following series five). In between him and Mr. Lucas is the flamboyant Mr. Humphreys (John Inman). With his mincing gait, outrageous costumes, and familiar cry of "I'm free," he's my personal favourite--though the whole cast really is terrific!
Of course one cannot forget the subtly lecherous floorwalker, Captain Peacock, a pompous ex-army officer (or so he claims). One gets a sense that this is probably the only position of authority he's ever had, and he milks it for all its worth, barking orders at his underlings at every opportunity. His favourite target is the rough, bawdy maintenance man, Mr. Mash (replaced by Mr. Harman in the fourth series), a militant trade unionist who loves to goad Cpt. Peacock (and who probably makes more money than Peacock does too!). Of the four actors who temporarily took over the role of department head following Brough's death, my favourite is Alfie Bass, who played shrewd Mr. Goldberg, himself an ex-army man, and from whom we glean a lot more about Corporal--I mean Captain--Peacock than Peacock would care to have known!
Then there is Mr. Rumbold, the bald-pated, jug-eared department manager (like Mollie Sugden, Nicholas Smith was very good-natured in allowing his physical appearance to be the basis of so much humour!). Finally, there is Young Mr. Grace, the elderly and extremely frail but hilariously lustful store owner (Harold Bennett, who died of a heart attack in 1981 following series eight, was 74 when the series began!).
There are two discs of DVD extras, the first of which consists of three 30-minute profiles (John Inman (1999), Mollie Sugden (1998), and Wendy Richard (2001)), each of which provides a brief bio, snippets from the various television productions in which the actor has been involved, and remembrances from fellow actors. The final feature is "Are You Being Confused?", a text-based dictionary of British slang. The second disc contains two features which have appeared as PBS specials over the years: Firstly, there is the 75-minute "The Best of Are You Being Served?", which is hosted by Mr. Humphreys and his mother (both played by John Inman, of course!), and which contains snippets of some of the funniest moments in the series. Secondly is the lovely 90-minute profile of Mollie Sugden (2002), which also contains snippets from the shows she's been in and remembrances from fellow actors, yet it doesn't entirely duplicate the other profile. Also included is the first episode of the 1992 sequel, "Are You Being Served? Again!".
With scripts liberally laced with double entendres, innuendos and puns, and a cast of characters made all the more memorable by some of the most capable actors in British comedy, this is character comedy at its best--a real Britcom classic!
They all did very well December 12, 2004
mwreview (Northern California, USA)
67 out of 70 found this review helpful
If I did not already have the season 1-5 box set and the season 6-10 box set separately, I would jump at this deal and would have saved 25 percent. Then again, I could not wait to own this entire series. If you are a fan of AYBS?, you are eventually going to want the whole series, so why wait? Get it all and enjoy the 69 episodes as well as some extras now. It's better then waiting for PBS to air them all in between fund raising telethons. Here's all you get:
The first half of this set (volumes 1-6 with a bonus volume 7) represents the best AYBS? material with original cast members Arthur Brough (Mr. Grainger), Harold Bennett (Young Mr. Grace), Larry Martyn (Mr. Mash), and Trevor Bannister (Mr. Lucas). They include all episodes from the black & white pilot through "It Pays to Advertise" from season 5. Volume 2 also includes my all-time favorite AYBS? episode "Big Brother," when Mr. Rumbold installs a closed circuit television in the store to uncover a burglar but instead uses it to spy on the Grace Brother's staff. The artistic details of both AYBS? sets are very nice. After choosing an episode, the elevator conductor announces the title and the lift doors open to reveal the plot.
The second half of this set (volumes 8-13 with a bonus volume 14) includes some unpopular cast changes but still offers plenty of hilarious episodes. Starting with volume 8, Mr. Grainger is replaced by a string of, mostly unmemorable, characters, and Mr. Lucas will eventually be replaced by the more mean-spirited and less tactful Mr. Spooner. Still, more of my personal favorites are nestled within the later volumes of this set. In "Grounds for Divorce" it seems almost every female member of Grace Brothers is enamored with Captain Peacock. "The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocomb" are about her obsession with you know who (in this case, he's not "free"). "The Hero" with Capt. Peacock developing a boil on his bum is another of my favorites. It also includes Trevor Bannister's last episode "The Punch and Judy Affair" which, although I find to be boring and repetitive, is a fan favorite.
What I also enjoy about both DVD sets for this series are the extras in volumes 7 and 14. You get half hour bios on John Inman, Molly Sugden, and Wendy Richard. Each bio includes pre-AYBS? clips (Sugden in "The Liver Birds," "Coronation Street;" Richard in "The Newcomers," "Hugh and I," "Up Pompeii!," "Dad's Army," etc.). In Richard's bio, there are many clips from the long-running soap opera EastEnders. They also include interview clips with Inman, Bannister, Frank Thornton, Richard, and Sugden as well as others that look like they were recorded fairly recently. "The Best of..." extra on volume 14 was disappointing. I thought John Inman would provide commentary to AYBS? clips. Actually, it is just a bunch of random clips (some quite long) that any fan of AYBS? has seen many times before. The piece on Molly Sugden looked as if it was going to be the same clip show but, fortunately, ends up with more interviews with actors and a look at Sugden's life in her own words which makes for a very welcomed extra. The first episode of Grace and Favour is also included and I recommend picking up the DVD with all the episodes of this cute series that is now available. This series was great, and "I am unanimous in that."
Glass of water for Mr. Grainger! Best Brticom ever. June 20, 2006
TheBanshee (United States)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
My husband and I got hooked on this show (and its memorable characters) back in the 80s when it was reguarly shown on our local public television station. I'm so happy the series has been preserved on DVD. Losing it would have been a catastrophe. If you haven't seen AYBS, first check out the series on Netflix if it's not shown on TV in your area. You'll come back to buy.
Mr. Humphries rules!!
They just don't get it April 6, 2006
STEVE V (san antonio, tx United States)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I purchased this set and it is somewhat expensive, but well worth it. My friends (including my girlfriend)don't understand why I would pay that much money for these old shows, but I happen to think they are hilarious. I watched my first episode on PBS late one evening about 5 years ago and have been hooked ever since. I was first introduced to British humor back in the 80's when "The Young Ones" aired on MTV. One thing about Americans watching BBC comedies, either you get it or you don't. Definitely worth purchasing and highly recommended. The DVD's have extras that explain certain things that happened on the show. It also contains bios of individuals that appeared on the show. Perfect for watching when you are at home on a rainy day.
Best British Comedy Sitcom! July 25, 2005
Larry Peoples (North Florida U.S.A.)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
The series "Are You Being Served? (AYBS) is one of the funniest TV comedies both from England and America that I have ever seen. I watch these shows over and over again and every time I pick up another bit of genius from the writers and/or the actors. The writing is "spot on" about service workers and Lloyd and Croft (and Michael Knowles) show their brilliance in these scripts. You could teach an entire college class on writing with just the shows from AYBS. Get it; watch it; listen and laugh!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 78
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